HARTSON: CELTS WILL CASH IN ON MOUSSA

Ex-Celt Hartson expects Hoops to cash in if megabucks bid’s tabled for Dembele

JOHN HARTSON believes that Celtic will be tempted to cash in on Moussa Dembele if a formal offer is received for the striker.

However, the former Hoops forward expects that Brendan Rodgers will already have lined up a replacement if Dembele is to quit the club this summer. Celtic remain adamant in the wake of interest from, among others, AC Milan, Seville and Chelsea, that the 20-year-old will not be sold in the current window. But Hartson believes their resolve may fade if they are faced with a firm and enticing offer.

“When there’s a bid there, down on email, with the amount of £25million written on it, it’s very hard to turn that down,” said Hartson.

“Listen, Dembele might stay. But it’s an

awful lot of money people are talking about. Whether Brendan can coax him to stay for one more year, who knows? That would be the ideal situation.

“But it’s fine when people talk about big money coming in for him and turning that down.

“I think the club will know even now what they want to do. Brendan will be working now on it.

“He’ll be sitting on holiday somewhere but his phone won’t stop ringing. He’ll be looking to see how he can add to this terrific group he’s got. In terms of timing, if they are going to let Dembele go they have to get somebody in.

“They may not lose him but I just think with that type of bid it could be difficult to turn that down when you’ve only paid £400,000 for him.

“It would be great if they could hold onto him because they could end up getting more than £25m.

“If he goes down to England and scores 25 goals in his first season then he’s worth £75million next season. That’s how crazy football is now.”

Hartson also believes Leigh Griffiths deserves his chance for a crack at the Champions League this season.

The striker hit a brace against England last weekend and while another frontman will come in should Dembele go, Hartson is an admirer of Griffiths.

“I think Leigh can score goals in the Champions League, he’s proved that by scoring for his country like he did last week,” said the former Welsh star.

“If they sell Dembele they’re obviously going to need another striker. But it’s about quality.

“Celtic have money from what they earned from the Champions League group stages last season. If they sell Dembele then that’s the best part of £50m.

“I’m not saying they should give it all to Brendan. They’ll add one or two. I don’t think there’s any pressure on Brendan.

“He’s breaking all types of records. Celtic have scored more goals than the team of 2000. They’ve won more games and amounted more points in a season when they went unbeaten. Brendan is doing things no other Celtic manager has done for 30 years.”